But He's a Friend of Herod!

Daily Reading: Acts 13

Scripture Focus: Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13.1)

Devotional Thought: Isn’t it amazing that a church would send their very best leaders to preach the gospel in other parts of the world?  What a spirit of sacrifice.  There was no consumer mentality in that church!  I’m not going to focus, however, on the “big names” of this chapter.  Not even on the magnanimous church.  What caught my attention was a little phrase in verse 1: “Manaen, a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch.” 

The leadership of the church at Antioch included five ministers who preached and taught.  There was Barnabas – the first pastor appointed over the congregation.  There was Saul - who was to become the most widely known missionary of history.  The three others are little known to us, but that does not mean that they were not influential to their congregation.  They were leaders, respected enough to be included in Luke’s account of that church in Antioch. 

Nothing is said of two of the men, but Manaen is identified as a friend of Herod the Tetrarch.  King Herod had been opposed to the Christians, even to the point of executing them.  Herod the Tetrarch was probably his son.  That means that Manaen was brought up in a decidedly anti-Christian environment.  Yet, we find Manaen leading a Christian congregation.  That’s amazing, isn’t it?  We probably wouldn't have chosen Manaen, but God did.

How about you?  Do you have a tendency to sell people short because of their background or their past, saying "But he's a friend of Herod!"?  Learn a lesson from the church in Antioch and give people a second chance to make a new start!  Who knows what leader you will help develop for the Kingdom?

Prayer: O Lord, help me to be the friend of "the friend of Herod."  Help me to see potential in people who may not have stellar backgrounds, but who do follow a stellar Savior!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 70.1-5

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!

2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!

3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!"

4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"

5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!